Saturday Afternoon in Fredericksburg

It’s just two games—way too early to hang a nickname like cardiac kids or anything like that—but the FredNats once again rallied late, scoring one in the 9th to tie and two in the 10th to win, 6-5 over the GreenJackets.

Early on, it was not pretty. Nolan Hughes, Washington’s 16th Rd. pick in 2024, was making his pro debut. What happened in 2025? Nobody seems to know.

But it was also clear that his tendency to issue walks and get whiffs in LaLoosh-like nos. was still the case. He had averaged 13.2 and 16.6, respectively, for Xavier in 2024. Against Augusta in 2026, he walked three and struck out three while throwing 32 pitches in his lone inning pitched.

Johan Otanez took over in the 2nd and was a little less wild but a whole lot more hittable as the GreenJackets strafed him for five hits in just an inning and 2/3rds – capped off by a three-run HR that put the FredNats in 4-0 hole.

Fredericksburg answered quickly with two in the bottom of the 3rd, courtesy of the first of two Eli Willits opposite-field hits and an RBI groundout by Gavin Fien. Three innings later, Ronny Cruz launched a line drive HR off the back of the LF pavilion to pull the FredNats within one at 4-3.

It should be noted that the last three runs came with a lot of help from Augusta. A walk and wild pitch scored the equalizer. Two walks and a wild pitch put the tying and winning runs into scoring position. Another walk by Luke Dickerson loaded the bases and Coy James hit the game-winner to walk ’em off.

The comeback was also made possible by Xander Meckley’s five shutout innings from the 4th to the 8th with but one hit and one walk while striking out six.

But that and $4 gets him a cup of coffee as the “W” went to Cesar Rojas. He came on in the 10th after Augusta scored the ghost runner to take a 5-4 lead and stranded two minimize the damage.

Weather permitting, the FredNats will go for the sweep late tomorrow afternoon. Miguel Sime Jr. is slated to pitch against Kendy Richard in the series finale.